Man charged in crash that killed 3 women

Feb. 13, 2013

Updated Aug. 21, 2013 1:17 p.m.

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Jessie Henriquez, 14, reacts during a memorial for his sister Stephanie Henriquez, 21, his aunt Carmen Mendoza, 56, and Mendoza's daughter Sheyla Mendoza, 21. The three women were struck and killed by a vehicle in the 100 block of South Western Avenue near Lincoln Avenue in Anaheim around 11 p.m. Saturday. CINDY YAMANAKA, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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More than 100 gathered at a memorial site in the 100 block of South Western Avenue near Lincoln Avenue in Anaheim where three Anaheim women were struck and killed by a vehicle in the 100 block of South Western Avenue near Lincoln Avenue in Anaheim around 11 p.m. Saturday. CINDY YAMANAKA, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Sheyla Mendoza, 21, of Anaheim, pictured, was recently engaged to her boyfriend of five years, according to co-worker, Perla Lemus. The two women worked at China Bowl in Buena Park. "Sheyla never brought her problems to work. She was always upbeat and was so good at her job that she was in line to become a manager," adds Lemus, who trained Mendoza. Lemus was one of seven co-workers who went to the memorial site. CINDY YAMANAKA, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Sergio Abrego of Fullerton, left, hugs a youngster at the memorial for his cousins Stephanie Henriquez, 21, and Sheyla Mendoza, 21, and aunt Carmen Mendoza, 56. "Stephanie was like a sister to me. I'm still trying to figure this all out," says a stunned Abrego. All three women were struck and killed by a vehicle in the 100 block of South Western Avenue near Lincoln Avenue in Anaheim around 11 p.m. Saturday. CINDY YAMANAKA, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Sergio Abrego of Fullerton, top, holds wife Marcela during a memorial for his cousins Stephanie Henriquez, 21, and Sheyla Mendoza, 21, and aunt Carmen Mendoza, 56. More than 100 gathered in the 100 block of South Western Avenue near Lincoln Avenue in Anaheim. CINDY YAMANAKA, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Spanish songs and prayers were heard at the memorial site for Stephanie Henriquez, 21, Sheyla Mendoza, 21, and her mom Carmen Mendoza, 56. All three Anaheim women were struck and killed by a vehicle Saturday night. CINDY YAMANAKA, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Anaheim resident Carmen Mendoza, 56, along with her daughter Sheyla Mendoza, 21, and niece Stephanie Henriquez, 21, were walking about 11 p.m. Saturday on the way home after a baby shower when they were struck and killed by the driver of a red Honda Civic, police said. KEVIN WARN, FOR THE REGISTER

Jessie Henriquez, 14, reacts during a memorial for his sister Stephanie Henriquez, 21, his aunt Carmen Mendoza, 56, and Mendoza's daughter Sheyla Mendoza, 21. The three women were struck and killed by a vehicle in the 100 block of South Western Avenue near Lincoln Avenue in Anaheim around 11 p.m. Saturday.CINDY YAMANAKA, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

Memorial fund

A memorial fund has established to help the families of Carmen Mendoza, 56, Sheyla Mendoza, 21, and Stephanie Henriquez, 21:

Schools First Federal Credit Union

P.O. Box 11547

Santa Ana, CA 92711

Description: Carmen, Sheyla, Stephanie MEM

A 40-year-old Buena Park man has been charged with killing three women when he crashed into them at a high rate of speed as they walked home from a baby shower, the Orange County District Attorney's Office said Wednesday.

Anthony Lewis Sanchez was charged with three felony counts of vehicular manslaughter causing death with gross negligence while intoxicated, one felony count of driving under the influence causing bodily injury, one felony count of driving with a blood-alcohol level of 0.08 percent or more causing bodily injury, plus sentencing enhancements and allegations, according to a news release from the District Attorney's Office.

Sanchez, who is being held in lieu of $500,000 bail, faces a maximum sentence of 12 years and eight months in state prison if convicted, prosecutors said.

Prosecutors said Sanchez was driving with a blood-alcohol level of 0.17 percent and "barely" slowed late Saturday night before crashing into Carmen Mendoza, 56, her daughter Sheyla Mendoza, 21, and her niece Stephanie Henriquez, 21.

The three women were walking home after a baby shower and died with the impact of the crash, prosecutors added.

Tuesday night, more than 100 family members and friends gathered at the site of the crash in the 100 block of South Western Avenue to mourn and pray for the women described as a "sweet" family.

Sergio Abrego, of Fullerton, was at the memorial for his cousins and aunt and said the fatal crash left him stunned.

"Stephanie was like a sister to me," Abrego said. "I'm still trying to figure this all out."

Perla Lemus, who worked with Sheyla Mendoza at China Bowl restaurant in Buena Park, said Sheyla had recently become engaged to her boyfriend of five years.

"Sheyla never brought her problems to work," said Lemus, who trained Mendoza. "She was always upbeat and was so good at her job that she was in line to become a manager."

Lemus was one of seven co-workers who went to the memorial site.

On Monday, the baby shower decorations still hung at Evelyn Morales' apartment as she talked about the last time she saw her boyfriend's mother, the eldest of the three women struck and killed.

"They were good people, very sweet," Morales said.

"We're trying to work with it," Morales added. "It's tough, especially with three losses."

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